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Thanks to winds from the northwest, parts of the Rogue Valley saw some moderate improvement in air quality Thursday morning, but area residents shouldn't get used to it. National Weather Service forecast models show those winds are expected to lighten and change direction Friday, which could bring smoke from fires burning in eastern Douglas County, as well as from fires burning in western Siskiyou County, according to meteorologist Shad Keene. It's also expected to warm up and dry out, further priming the terrain for fire. "Smoke will just have the opportunity to propagate across much of the area," said Keene. "(There will be) less wind to push it out of here." Medford, Shady Cove and Ashland have not seen "good" air quality since Aug. 13, according to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Air Quality Index. Ashland's air dipped to "moderate" Aug. 14 to 18, then dropped to "unhealthy for sensitive groups" Aug. 19, and to "unhealthy" Aug. 20, where it remained through Wednesday, Aug. 23. Medford saw "moderate" air quality Aug. 14 to 19, then dipped to "unhealthy for sensitive groups" Aug. 20-21, then to "unhealthy" Aug. 22-23. Shady Cove saw "moderate" air Aug. 14-19 and "unhealthy for sensitive groups" Aug. 20-21. It was "unhealthy" Aug. 22, then bounced back to "unhealthy for sensitive groups" Wednesday. Thursday evening, air quality had improved to "moderate" in Medford and Ashland. Fires The largest fire in the region, the Chetco Bar fire, was listed at 102,333 acres late Thursday morning, according to the Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office. Considered the nation's top priority wildfire, the fire has burned to within about five miles northeast of Brookings. The lightning-sparked fire, which is burning in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness across two counties, has no containment. It has destroyed five homes, 20 outbuildings and 13 vehicles, according to a news release from Gov. Kate Brown's office. On Wednesday, about 125 additional Oregon National Guard service members and support personnel mobilized and headed to the front lines, the release said. Crews took advantage of cooler weather and made progress on fire lines and indirect contingency lines on the south and southwestern flanks. That was expected to change over the weekend, however, as temperatures increase and overnight "Chetco effect" winds fan the flames. "As of (Friday), it goes back to its more routine effect," said Jose Acosta, fire public information officer. Many Curry County residents remain under Level 2 — "get set" — evacuation advisories, while others have been asked to leave immediately under a Level 3 — "go now" — notice. An interactive map, available at https://goo.gl/keU1PZ , shows which areas fall under specific evacuation notices. An emergency shelter is located at Riley Creek Elementary, 94350 Sixth St., in Gold Beach. The 14,012-acre Miller Complex, made up of multiple fires burning 17 miles east of Cave Junction and in the vicinity of Applegate Lake, is considered 33 percent contained, while the 12,981-acre High Cascades Complex, primarily composed of two fires burning near Crater Lake, is at about 60 percent containment. Eastern Douglas County's Umpqua North Complex has grown to 13,456 acres and is 7 percent contained. — Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected]. Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil.